Online Reporter
Calvin Munashe Masunda
ON my drive to school in the morning, I tuned into a popular local radio station expecting to hear something familiar — something that sounded like home.
Instead, I was met with voices that sounded foreign.
The presenters spoke in polished British accents, the music was dominated by Western artistes and the topics ranged from United Kingdom social issues to American celebrity gossip.
It was as if I had stumbled upon a London radio station, not one meant to serve Zimbabwean listeners.
Phrases like “bloody brilliant” and “cheers mate” filled the air, alongside references to places and issues that felt worlds away from our lived realities.
I could not help but feel a deep sense of sadness — and a pang of frustration.
We are told we live in a global village, and that is true. The internet, the media and technology have made it easier than ever to connect across borders.
But in this interconnected world, there is a danger: the gradual erasure of our own cultural voice. Western influence is everywhere — from the way we dress, to the way we speak, to the way we consume information.
And while there is nothing wrong with learning from other cultures, there is something deeply troubling about abandoning our own in the process.
This particular local radio station once reflected Zimbabwean life. It celebrated our languages — Shona, Ndebele and even our unique flavour of English.
It was a platform for local artistes, local thinkers and local stories.
Today, it seems to be drifting.
The accents sound imported, the music feels curated for foreign tastes and the conversations rarely touch the rhythms of our daily lives. Where are the voices that speak like us? Where are the stories that reflect our struggles, our joys and our humour?
Language is more than a tool — it is a mirror of identity.
When we speak in our mother tongues, we carry generations of wisdom. Our proverbs, idioms and storytelling traditions hold truths that cannot be translated.
When our media no longer reflect our way of speaking, we risk raising a generation disconnected from its roots.
This is not just about radio; it is part of a broader cultural shift.
Our schools, our entertainment and even our social media feeds are increasingly Westernised.
Young people are growing up knowing more about Hollywood than about their own history.
They can name British pop stars but struggle to name local heroes.
They mimic foreign accents — not out of admiration, but because they have been taught, subtly and repeatedly, that sounding Western is somehow better.
But it is not.
Our accents are beautiful. Our languages are rich. Our customs are profound. We must not let them fade into the background. We must demand that our media reflects us — not just our aspirations, but our essence.
Let our radio stations play local music. Let them discuss local issues. Let them celebrate local voices. Let them sound like Zimbabwe.
Westernisation is not inherently bad.
Exposure to global ideas can be enriching, but it must be balanced.
We must be rooted in our culture.
If we lose our cultural voice, we lose the power to tell our own story.
And no amount of global connectivity can replace it once it is gone.
Let us not forget who we are. Let us speak in our own voices. Let us listen to ourselves.
Calvin Munashe Masunda is an Upper Six Arts learner at Zengeza 1 High School. He is a critical thinker, writer and a patriot.
